As members of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care Program (NIDCAP) family know all too well, preterm birth is a global challenge with developmental and physical challenges and disabilities which can not be completely explained by medical complications alone. The overexposure to unexpected noxious sensory stimuli and diminished positive experiences in the hospital contribute to the developmental picture for a child born early. NIDCAP, through minimization of the mismatch between the immature brain’s expectations and experiences of stress and pain in the hospital environment, has proven repeatedly to improve outcomes for children born preterm. Despite the research and publications on the positive outcomes for NIDCAP and the increasing availability of NIDCAP training, it is not consistently practiced in every intensive care unit (ICU) caring for fragile infants, though an increasing number of newborn ICUs (NICU) understand the importance of individualized developmental care and provide at least partial support in selected aspect of the NIDCAP model. Continue reading →